| In recent times, the men's basketball team has won invitations to the NCAA tournament in 1998 (under coach Larry Eustachy), 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2006. Prior to 2006, all of these invitations were a result of winning the Big West Conference tournament. In 2006, the Aggies received an at-large bid to the tournament, after finishing second place in their first season in the Western Athletic Conference and losing in overtime of the WAC tournament championship game to Nevada-Reno. Despite a stellar season in 2003–2004 and a national top-25 ranking toward the end of the Theater tickets, the Aggies did not receive an at-large tournament bid after being upset in the conference tournament. This decision earned the derision of head coach Morrill, as the Aggies held a 25-3 record and were nationally ranked in the top-25. The biggest highlight of the "Stew Era" so far was a first-round victory against fifth-seeded Ohio State University in 2001. |
